During the trial, a witness revealed that she had received unsettling messages from a woman accused of stalking the family of missing Madeleine McCann. The witness was one of the friends of Madeleine’s parents present on the night she disappeared.
David and Fiona Payne, who were on holiday in Praia da Luz, Portugal in 2007, testified against Julia Wandelt and Karen Spragg. The Paynes, referred to as the McCanns’ ‘Tapas’ friends, provided evidence for the prosecution.
Fiona Payne disclosed that she had been contacted by Wandelt, stating that they had received numerous messages over the years but never from anyone claiming to be Madeleine. She mentioned discovering messages from Wandelt on Facebook Messenger, including requests for DNA comparisons with Madeleine’s parents.
According to Mrs. Payne, her daughter also received messages from Wandelt, which she described as emotional and manipulative. She expressed concern for her daughter’s well-being due to the impact of Madeleine’s disappearance.
Describing the messages as disturbing, Mrs. Payne expressed her feelings about the situation. The court also heard recordings of phone calls made by Wandelt to David Payne, where she expressed her belief that she was Madeleine and sought contact with Kate and Gerry McCann.
Wandelt is facing charges of stalking the McCann family and sending various forms of communication to them. Spragg, another defendant, is also charged with stalking. The alleged offenses took place between June 2022 and February 2025, and the trial is ongoing.